Grenade all-ways fuze



July 7, 1953 y D. c. KNOWLTQN 2,644,399

GRENADE ALL-WAYS FUzE Filed Sept. 29. 1949 I] all a s E- Knnwltcm.

Patented July 7, 1953 UNITED l STATES PATENT OFFICE GRENADE ALL-WAYS FUZE p Dallas C. Knowlton, Arlington, Va.

Application September 29, 1949, Serial No. 118,661

1 Claim.

(Cl. 102-8L6) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Goverment for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a grenade fuze and more specifically to a very simple and practical all-ways impact type fuze for use in hand grenades and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a grenade or the like with a fuze that will function upon impact regardless of the angle that the grenade makes with the target upon impact.

Another object of the invention is to produce an al1-ways fuze that is economical of manufacture and positive in action.

Another object of the invention is to produce an all-ways fuze that is easily assembled without requiring the use of special tools or skilled labor.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 shows for the purpose of illustration a spherically shaped grenade in which is incorporated my all-ways fuze.

Figure 2 is a section taken along line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective showing the sliding elements of the fuze.

Referring now to the drawings by characters of reference there is shown in Figure 1 an embodiment of my invention wherein I generally indicates the hollow body of a spherically shaped grenade having a filling hole plug closure 2 and a diametrically opposed threaded opening 4.for the purpose of receiving the all-ways fuze. Seated on an annulus 5 and retained in position by means of an externally threaded ring 6 is a substantially funnel shaped partition 'I holding a booster charge 8 in alignment with a detonator 9 and primer III. The partition projects inwardly into the body of the grenade and is substantially surrounded by an explosive charge II contained in said body. The fuze housing assembly comprises two substantially dish shaped members I2 and I3 in threaded engagement as at I4 and forming a chamber I5 having a vertical wall I5a and inclined walls I6 and I1. A detonator charge 9 is xed in a downwardly depending cylindrical extension I2a of the member I2. Resiliently supported within the chamber and normally between its vertical walls are two substantially rectangular shaped slide members I8 and I9 carrying a primer I0 and a firing pin 25 is opposed relationship. The ends of the slide members adjacent to the vertical walls are provided with hemispherical bearing projections to reduce friction. 'Slide member I9 is slotted as at 22 and 23 forming two arms 29. Positioned parallel to each arm 1n the slot 22 and each having one end fixed in the bottom of slot 22 are springs 24. Intermediate springs 24 in the bottom of slot 22 is xed a firing pin 25. Slide member I8 is provided with a table 26 slidable in slot 22 and arranged to engage the springs 24 as at 21. Projecting downwardly from the table 26 is a guide 28 slidable between the arms 2.9-29 formed by the slots 22 and 23. The detonator I0 is housed in slide I 8 in axial alignment with the ring pin and intermediate the springs 24. Aligned ports 30 and 3| in the slide I8 and disk member I2 respectively provide communication between the primer and detonator.

A spring loaded cap 32 is pivoted to the base of member I3 as shown by the reference character 33 and is releasably held to the base by means of a cotter pin engaging a projection of said cap and a lug of the member I3 as generally indicated at 34. A spring 35 fixed to the inside of the cap and in engagement with the base of member I3 and throws the cap off the grenade. A string 36 is wound upon a spool 31 has one end fastened to the safety pin 38 as at 42 and the other end fastened to the cap as at 4|. The safety pin passes through aperture 39 in the base of member I3 and into an aperture 40 in the slide member I3, holding the slide members in spaced relationship, Gaskets l2a and I3a form waterproofing means between the grenade body and fuze assembly, and the cap and fuze assembly respectively. Y

In throwing the grenade, the fingers of one hand are held over the pivoted cap and the cotter pin is removed by the other hand. As the grenade leaves the hand of the thrower the spring loaded cap is thrown from the grenade. The cap in flight will unwind the string from the spool and pull the safety pin out of the grenade at a safe distance from the thrower, leaving the grenade in an armed condition. In the armed condition the slide members containing the primer and ring lpin are resiliently spaced by means of the springs. When the grenade strikes the target the slide members compress the springs and impinge the nring pin on the primer causing the detonator, booster and main charge to re. It is apparent from the drawings that impact along the vertical axis will cause the two slide members to slide along the inclined walls I6 or Il and laterally move toward each other overcoming the resistance offered by the springs and ring the primer. Impact in a direction at right angles to the vertical axis will cause the slide members to move only towards each other and re the primer. Impact at any angle between the aforementioned limits will result in the slides moving along the inclined surfaces and towards each other causing the primer to function.

their outer ends conforming to the contours of c said chamber, one of said firing elements being slotted laterally and vertically to form two pairs of U-shaped legs, a ring pin iixedY in the bottom of said lateral slot intermediate said pairs of legs, a spring Xed at one end within the confines of each pair of legs and each having its free end arranged to engage the other of said iiring elements, the other of said ring elements being substantially longitudinally T-shaped in cross section to slidably engage the walls of said lateral and vertical slots, the inner end of said cross section engaging said springs resiliently spacing said firing elements to slidably engage the walls of said chamber, each of said firing elements being provided with hemispherical projections at their outer ends to engage the walls of said chamber, the vertical element of said cross section housing a primer in axial alignment With said firing pin and in communication with a detonator in said lower bodymember.

DALLAS C. KNOWLTON.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,768,678 Froelich I July 1, 1930 FOREIGN v PATENTS Number Country Date 324,901 Germany i Sep-t. 4, 1920.k 270,168 Italy Dec. 21, 1929 110,856 Sweden June 6, 1944 

